Towing apparatus.



B. U. Cl BUUCM.

I TOWING APPARATUS. APPLICATION men JUNE 23.19%

jl lwfimfl Patented (m. 26, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. D. C. BUUCK.

TOWING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23.1914.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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TOWING APPARATUS.

isteria.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CnnIs'rIAN D. O. BUUGK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residin at Hoagland, in the county of Allen and tate of lndiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lowing Apparatus,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to towing apparatus for vehicles, especiallymotor vehicles and is designed as an improvement over my parentapplication, filed May 17, 1913, Se-

rial No. 768,320, and has primarily for its object to provide anapparatus which is longitudinally adjustable 'to dispose the towingvehicle a predetermined distance apart from the incapacitated vehicle,at the option of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to so associate the towingmechanism with the steering rod of the incapacitated vehicle,

that the latter will be guided inthe path.

, taken by the towing vehicle; the towing all) mechanism is constructedto permit of its expeditious attachment to or detachment from thesteering rod.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism inconjunction with the reach which engages the front axle and steering rodof an incapacitated vehicle so asto guide the latter, the portion of theI mechanism which is in engagement with the axle of the incapacitatedvehicle, being adjustable laterally and longitudinally, so as to beadaptable for use in connection with axles of various types, and beingreadily detachable from the axle in view of its peculiar formation; theportion of the mechanism which is in connection with the steering rodbeing capable of attachment to steering rods of various circumferentialdimensions and being capable of movement longitudinally of the vehicleso as to be adapted for use with steering rods which are placed variousdistances from the axles with which they are associated.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scopeof my invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a top plan view of a towingapparatus constructed in accordance with my invention,

Specification of Letters Batent.

Application filed. June at, 1am Serial at. 846,863.

illustrating the application thereof, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the same, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFigil, and Fig. 4: is a detailed enlarged fragmentary sectional view ofa portion of the steering apparatus, showing the manner in which it ismounted on the axle, and its connection with the steering rods thereof.I

In the drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of thisinvention, in order to illustrate the application thereof, the rear axle5 of a towing vehicle is provided which is arranged in spaced relationto the front axle 6 of an incapacitated vehicle, the latter havingassociated therewith the usual steering rod 7.

My improved towing apparatus in l the present instance is generallydesignated at each of the latter being in pivotal engagement with jaws13, the latter conforming to the contour of the'axle 5 of the towingvehicle, and provided with shanks which are serrated and adapted forengagement with a collar 14, the latter holding the jaws 13 snugly inengagement with the axle 5, as advantageously illustrated in Fig. 2-.

Mounted on the axle 6 is an elongated plate 15 which extends inparallelism with said axle 6 and has revolubly mounted thereon a disk16, the upper face of the latter having a pair of parallel arms 17extending therefrom, which are in pivotal connection with one end of thesection 9 of the reach.

Elongated alining slots 18 are formed in the arms 17 and are adapted forengagement with the opposite ends of a pin 19, the pin extendingtransversely through one end of a link 20. The link 20 is pivotallyengaged to an ofiset portion 21, the latter extending from the uppermarginal edge of a yoke member v22, the yoke member comprising ametallic strap, the opposite ends of which are turned at right angles tothe body and into parallelism with each other. Said right angled endsare provided therein with substantially semicircular recesses 23 whichengage with the steering rod 7, said redheing held in engagement withthe recesses 23 through the medium of hooks 2d, the latter havingthreaded shanks 25 extending therefrom which are engaged through complemental openings in the body of the yoke member 22, the threaded shank 25being held from displacement in the yoke member 22 by nuts 26. Theopposite ends of the plate are reengaged through the upper end of therack bar 29, as advantageously illustrated in Fig.

'3. The rack bar 29 isin 'engagement with the axle 6 on one side of thelatter, while a plate 30 is in engagement with the opposite side of theaxle, the upper end of saidplate being reduced and adapted forengagement with the teeth 27 of the bar 26, while the opposite endthereof is provided with a transverse openin through which isthreaded-the shank 31 o a plate 32, said shank and said plate beinghingedly connected together, and the latter being reduced and engagedwith the teeth of the rack bar 29. In order to hold the threaded shank31 through the opening in the bottom of the plate 30, a nut 33 is.provided which is engaged with said threaded shank'exterior of theplate 30, so as to hold the latter snugly in engagement with the axle,it being seen that the threading of the nut 33 on the shank 31 causesthe plate 32 to exert pressure on the rack bar 29, thereby causing thelatter to be also snugly engaged with the axle 6.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanyingdrawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodlment of myinvention and that various axle of an incapacitated vehicle, and meansfor holding said mechanism in engagement wlth said front axle, saidmeans comprising bars associated with the mechanism and one side of theaxle, plates adjustably connected to said bars, and means in connectionwith said plates for simultaneously actuating said bai's and said platesto snugly engage the ax e.

2. A towing apparatus including a reach adapted for engagement with therear axle of a towing vehicle, a mechanism in connection with theopposite end for engagement with the front axle and the steering rod ofan incapacitated vehicle, the steering rod engaging portion comprising ametal strap, the opposite ends of which are turned at right angles tothe body and provided with recesses in their terminals adapted for thereception of the steering rod, and hooks mounted in said straps forpreventing accidental displacement of said rod from said recesses.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in,presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN D. C. BUUCK. Witnesses CHARLES HOEFFMER, FRANK H.O'I'IENWELLER.

